前苏联共合国乔治亚这一阵子流行用水蛭治疗疾病,以往欧洲人会用水蛭治疗痔疮,乔治亚人把这项疗法发扬光大,用来治疗其他疾病。4 H0 m7 ~+ s- G. {0 K
) e3 Z6 @9 Y! [人在德国 社区 乔治亚很多诊所都提供水蛭疗法,病人得先跟诊所买一只水蛭,更年期妇女先把水蛭放在脖子上,经过一、二十分钟,水蛭吸完血,身体膨胀4倍,就可以取下,接着医师再把另外2只水蛭放在这名妇女上下牙龈上,等吸完血再取出,医师在患者伤口上贴上绷带,就算完成治疗。接受过治疗的妇女说,她们在更年期会出现的潮红和盗汗都有明显改善。 2 g/ d& z, I0 I( v 8 L, K. ?9 T0 Y8 g+ } r: r 另外,有一些高血压或是经常性头痛病人,也会用水蛭疗法降低血压,或是治疗头痛。一名医师说,不但乔治亚人用水蛭治病,乌克兰、波兰、甚至德国,也有不少人接受这种疗法。 $ T: l) T$ g( l# d4 n; K* Urs238848.rs.hosteurope.de( C% k0 M6 e2 Y2 |2 i# D 4 U6 o1 G& E1 r1 ~人在德国 社区 : q, F0 | }: s. i B3 {; E人在德国 社区 3 s4 a! t& l' b1 K1 z# c/ U K7 p ( a# P, I7 J4 l- Y" L人在德国 社区Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de3 e7 I- \+ q, s
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Leeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits.% P7 Q/ j' F' R, X
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The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. e0 d d; X" s2 B. O1 e* x) r& S8 Drs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 9 D; E: Q* x! s2 _9 O' G" |+ i4 H人在德国 社区That idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia. " W& b$ L6 F3 c+ ars238848.rs.hosteurope.de. g' x& t' h; R4 R E" _1 j4 p) |
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.